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Patented Dec. 20, |898. W. R. MASON. COTTON PRESS.

(Application led Mar, 16, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(Oo Model!) NS, MN

Mw I .QN liv/Mm? I IU" 1 hun No. 6|6,34I. Patented Dec. 20, |898.

- W. R. MASON. v

COTTON PRESS.

(Application .led Mar. 16, 1898.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.VILLIAIWI R. MASON, OF HILLSBOROUGII, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF TIIREE-FOURTHS TO S. M. CARLTON, SCOTT IVAIIKER, D. E. MORRIS, A. M. IVALKER, E. S. CRUMLEY, AND .Ii B. LOF- TIN, OF SAME PLACE.

COTTON-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,341, dated December 20, 1898.

Application ledMarch 16, 189 8.

Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cotton-presses, and has for its object improvements in the means 1o for operating the compressing mechanism in zo tical section.

3o brace-beams o on each side of the machine.

devices of this character whereby to secure a positive and powerful operation of the parts with a minimum amount of friction.

Other objects of the invention relate to cer- I 5 tain details of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal ver- Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings-the reference-numeral 1 indicates the base of the machine, upon which z5 are secured vertically-disposed uprights 2,

four of which are shown, constituting the main supporting-frame of the machine. Secured near the upper ends of these uprights 2, on opposite sides of the machine, are two n et, affording between them grooves or ways 5 for a purpose to be presently described. Slidabiy supported adjacent to the uprights 2 and the brace-beams 3 4.- are uprights 6, four of which are shown, two At their upper ends these uprights are firmly secured to an upper presser-head 7, preferably at the four corners of the latter, which are suitably mortised to receive said uprights. The presser- 4o head 7 may have secured on its under surface a face-plate S of metal or of a material harder than the body portion of said presser-head. Slidably supported on the uprights 6 beneath the upper presser-head 7 is a lower presserhead 9, the corners ol' which are suitably mortised or grooved to engage and slide on said uprights, which thereby serve to confine and form a guide for the said presser-head. The opposing surfaces of the presser-heads 7 Serial No. 674,089. (No model.)

and 9 are provided with a series of crossgrooves 10, by means of which suitable binders may be applied to the bales of cotton being compressed. At their lower endsthe uprights 6 are firmly secured to a bearing-block 1l, which has provided on its upper surface longitudinal slots 12, in which are pivot-ally supported the lower ends of toggle-levers 13, which in their .central part are mounted on trunnions 14, having at their opposite ends cross-heads 15, which lare adapted to slide in the ways 5. The upper ends of toggle-levers 13 are pivotally mounted in longitudinal slots formed in the under side of presser-head 9.

The numeral 16 indicates a rectangular frame which is secured at its sides on the uprights 2 and may be otherwise braced and supported, if desired. In the sides of this frame are provided guideways 17, in which are slidably mounted the side members of a yoke-frame 1S. Theframes 16 and 18 extend outwardly at one end of the machine a greater distance than at the other. The toggle-levers 13 are arranged in pairs, as shown. Extending from one pair of these levers is a connecting-rod 19, which at its outer end is secured to the end member 2O of frame 1S. In the long extension of frame 16 is supported a pair of cylinders 21 22, which, however, may be in the form of a single elongated cylinder. From the cylinder 22 extends a piston-rod 23, which is pivotally connected to the pair of toggle -levers opposite those to which the connecting-rod 19 is attached. The pistonrod 23 is connected to a piston 24 within the cylinder 22. From the cylinder 21 extends a piston-rod 25, which at its outer end is connected to the end member 26 of frame 18 and at its inner end to a piston 27 within cylinder 21. and are joined together in such manner as to form practically a continuous cylinder. At the point of connection of these cylinders is provided a portY 28, having communication with the interior of the two cylinders. Suitable valve mechanism is provided for controlling the supply and exhaust of the m0- tive duid to the cylinders. This valve mechanism comprises a valve-casing 30, inclosing The heads of the two cylinders abut a four-way valve 3l and communicating with steam-pipes 32, leading to the ends of cylinders 2l 22 behind the pistons 24 27, respectively. Said casing also has communication with an inlet-pipe 33, leading from the source of steam-supply, and with a steam-pipe 34, communicating with the port 28.

The operation is as follows: The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, the cotton to be compressed into a bale is placed between the heads 7 and 9. Steam or other motive iiuid is admitted through the inletport 28 to the cylinders. This will operate to move the pistons 24 and 27 outward in Itheir respective cylinders. The piston-rod 23 will operate directly upon one pair of toggle-levers 13, and the piston-rod 25 will operate to move the frame 18 outward in the guideways 17, which through the medium of connecting-rod 19 will operate on the opposite pair of toggle-levers, the two pairs of togglelevers being thus pressed inward simultaneously. This will cause the lower presserhead 9 to be moved upward. At the same time as the toggle-levers 13 are straightened the bearing-block 11 will be moved downward, thereby through the 'medium of uprights 6 drawing the upper presser-head 7 downward. The presser-headsarethussimultaneously moved toward each other to press the cotton between them. When the requisite amount of pressure has been exerted, the binders are applied to the bale and the valve 31 is turned to permit the steam to exhaust through pipe 34 and to enter at the ends of the cylinders through pipes 32, whereby the piston-rods 23 and 25 are driven inwardly and the parts actuated to move the sets of togglelevers 13 outwardlyfrom each other, thereby lowering presser-head 9 and raising presserhead 7. The bale may now be removed.

By the arrangement described it will be seen that the piston-rods will be moved simultaneously in opposite directions. It willA further be seen that I secure a powerful leverage, while the operation is positive and may be quickly and easily controlled. At the same time I reduce the friction of the parts to the minimum, thereby securing the full benefit of the motive power employed.

lt is apparent that many minor change-s in the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts might be made and substituted for those shown and described without in the least departing from the spirit or nature of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a cotton-press, the combination with the frame of uprights slidably supported therein, a presser-head secured to said uprights at their upper ends, a bearing-block secured to said uprights at their lower end, a lower presser-head slidably supported on said uprights, opposite pairs of toggle-levers connecting said bearing-block and lower presserhead, a yoke-frame slidably supported in the frame of the machine, a connecting-rod secured to one end of said yoke-frame and pivotally attached to one pair of said toggle-levers, a pair of cylinders having pistons therein and piston-rods projecting from the outer ends thereof, one of said piston-rods being secured to the opposite end of said yoke-frame and the other being pvotally attached to the other pair of toggle-levers, substantially as described.

2. In a cotton-press, the combination of a supporting-frame comprising standards connected by brace-beams affording ways on their inner sides, of uprights slidably supported in said frame, a presser-head secured to said uprights at their upper end, a bearing-block secured to said uprights at their lower end, a lower presser-head slidably supported on said uprights, opposite pairs of toggle-levers, connecting said bearing-blocliand lower presserhead and having trunnions carrying crossheads adapted to slide in said ways, a longitudinallyextending rectangular frame secured on said main frame and affording on its outer sides guideways, a yoke-frame slidably supported in said guideways, a connecting-rod secured to one end of said yoke-frame and pivotally attached to one pair of said toggle-levers, a pair of cylinders supported in said rectangular fram e, having pistons therein and piston-rods projecting from the outer ends thereof,` one of said piston-rods being secured to the opposite end of said yoke-frame and the other being pivotally attached to the other pair of toggle-levers, the combination operating substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- WILLIAM R. MASON.

Witnesses:

M. F. WINFREY, R. M. VAUGHAN. 

